A/N: So I've done these song challenges before and I think they're really fun. I wanted to try my hand at MakoHaru. I hope you guys like them! As you'll see, I have a lot of Taylor Swift on my iTunes.
Anyways, the rules are posted below. If you've never given it a shot, do so! It's a lot of fun but a lot more challenging than you could possibly imagine. And if you happen to comment, do me a favor and just let me know which of the 10 was your favorite, I'm always curious! Thank you!
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Instructions:
1. Pick a character, fandom, pairing, friendship, whatever.
2. Put on your music program on shuffle/random and start playing songs.
3. For each song, write something inspired by the song related to the theme you chose earlier. You only have the song length. No pre-planning and no writing after the song is over. No skipping songs either. Yeah...
4. Do 10 songs and post. Make sure to include the song name/artist.
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Superman- Taylor Swift
Haruka had always thought of Makoto as a sort of hero; he always knew what to say and do or what needed to be done. It was uncanny, but he loved it. If he forgot his towel, his homework, his lunch… Makoto always seemed to be able to anticipate these sorts of things and come prepared with whatever he was missing.
He also considered Makoto a hero at home. The way he was able to run around with his siblings, maintain his homework and help his parents while never appearing to break a sweat was impressive and baffling. Sometimes Haru found himself simply standing in a corner, watching Makoto work his magic and waiting for him to come back.
Lots of people loved Makoto, but nobody seemed to know this side of him. For that reason, Haru started to consider him his own personal Superhero. Someone he could look up to and love; someone he knew would be willing to swoop in at any given moment to save him and bring him back to safety.
And like any good Superhero, Makoto was sweet and gentle. It only took Haru a short time after realizing that he knew a superhero's secret identity to realize that he had, in fact, also fallen in love with him.
But he didn't love Makoto because he was a Superhero; capable of feats Haru thought would forever remain unmatched by everyone. He loved him because he was Makoto. Because at night, he put on his polka dot pajamas and climbed into bed and was vulnerable. He loved him because he could see straight through to his heart, and perhaps that was Haru's superpower.
Animal- Neon Trees
When Haru fell in love with Makoto, he really fell—Hard, fast and all at once. He had known Makoto for as long as he could possibly remember, he had always protected him and wanted to keep him safe. But for years he just considered that normal behavior for a best friend.
And then suddenly, it progressed.
Part of him thought it was when Makoto helped pull him out of the pool, only to slip on a puddle that someone (Nagisa!) had created on the cement. The two of them toppled to the ground together, landing on top of each other in a tangled heap of limbs.
Now, this didn't faze him at first. They had shared beds before; they had fallen asleep together, tangled in sheets and each other and it was normal for them. But when he was laying in bed that night, trying to sleep and picturing nothing but the blush on Makoto's cheeks as he apologized and the warmth of skin underneath him, he realized that they hadn't just fallen to the ground.
At least, he hadn't. In that moment, he had fallen in love. Head over heels, completely and utterly in love. But it didn't scare him like he always thought falling in love would.
If he were to fall in love with anybody, there couldn't be a better choice than the person he had always considered his other half anyways.
I Like That- Before You Exit
It wasn't often that anyone saw it, but when Haruka smiled, it meant a lot to everyone. Everyone, including Makoto, who suddenly felt like fireworks had gone off in his stomach when he received one of Haru's rare smiles.
It was funny, Makoto realized one day as he sat in the still empty pool, staring at Haru while he was working, that just a smile could make him feel that way. He knew with unwavering certainty that Haru could convince him to do damn near anything with that smile.
Let's rephrase; Haru could convince him to do damn near anything. Period.
Makoto knew the things people liked and hated about Haru; namely the fact that he was so closed off and antisocial (or so it seemed to outsiders). But there wasn't anything about him that Makoto hated. He sometimes got frustrated with Haru—such a thing was inevitable—but he didn't hate anything Haru did. He couldn't.
To hate something Haru did was to hate something about Haru and he had nothing but pure, unconditional love for the boy he had watched grow up. For the one he could read clearly from miles away. No, he loved everything Haru did.
Sweeter Than Fiction- Taylor Swift
Makoto had watched Haru grow up. He had always known what swimming meant to Haru and he had never—not even one single time—questioned Haru's need for water. The only thing he saw in that love was a chance for him to provide. He would always find a way to provide Haru with a chance to swim because he knew, deep down inside, that Haru would make something great of himself with swimming.
He may not become famous, but he would be the greatest version of himself. And if there was one thing in this world that Makoto was sure it, it was that Haru would be able to move mountains someday if he put his mind to it.
So he provided Haru with love, support and water. And through it all, he never lost his belief that Haru could change the world. And when Haru was happy, Makoto felt like the stars had aligned and granted him with a gift.
In the moments that Haru stood tall and proud, ready to face the future and confident that he could do whatever he wanted, Makoto could smile and think to himself that he always knew this was in Haru. He always knew this was waiting to break out.
And though many people came to Haru and tried to get close to him, nobody ever succeeded. Because Haru knew that he had only come this far because of Makoto. He knew that the one who had stood by his side without fail all these years was Makoto and that nobody besides him deserved to share in his triumph.
When the Darkness Comes- Colbie Caillat
Makoto was afraid of the water. Of course, nobody besides Haruka knew that extended to all water, not just the ocean, and he intended to keep it that way. It was one thing to share his fear of the ocean with Rei and Nagisa, but he only did so because the situation called for it. Had things not happened that way, he probably never would have told them.
That being said, he had a distinct fondness for rain, specifically taking long walks in it. He loved the way the day would turn dark and he could sneak away unnoticed and blend into the shadows. He loved that for some time, he could just be peaceful. No responsibilities, nobody needing him to look after them, nothing but him and his thoughts.
That quickly changed, however. During one particularly stormy night, he found himself standing on the beach watching the ocean turn in upon itself, wondering what exactly it was that awaited them all between the dark waves.
"Makoto!" He heard his name. He spun quickly only to see Haru standing a few feet away, hand shielding his eyes from the rain that had already soaked through his clothes completely. "Makoto!"
He walked towards Haru as Haru moved towards him. They met somewhere in the middle and immediately Makoto could feel himself fussing over Haru. "Haru? What are you doing out here! You'll catch a cold!"
"I could say the same about you," Haru replied, brushing away Makoto's worrying hands. "Why are you here? It's not safe by the ocean."
Makoto could hear the words Haruka wasn't saying. "What are you doing here when you're so terrified of the ocean?"
"I don't know," He admitted honestly. "I like to get away during the storms and have some time to myself. I often find myself here, wondering what exactly it is that makes me love this water," He points up towards the dark clouds above, "And terrified of this water," he points out towards the dark, swirling ocean.
"Well," Haru said, walking towards the water a little bit, "I'll wait while you figure it out."
"E-eh?" Makoto followed his best friend. "But I haven't figured it out yet and this has been going on awhile, and I don't want you to get sick."
"Don't face your fears alone, Makoto." Haru said suddenly, turning to face him earnestly. "Don't get lost in the darkness. You always have me at your side."
Makoto smiled then, truly happy for the first time in awhile. Haruka was the reason he loved swimming. He was the reason Makoto had braved the ocean after years of being terrified of it and almost drowned. He could be the reason Makoto braved the ocean again, despite his endless bad luck with it. Haruka was his reason for many things, and now he was also Makoto's reason for feeling at ease.
"Thanks, Haru." He said, taking a seat on the beach and staring at the ocean.
Haru sat next to him and they talked quietly amongst themselves. It became a routine, then, that whenever it stormed, they would walk to the beach and get lost in the darkness together, finally able to just be themselves and be with each other.
I want Crazy- Hunter Hayes
Haru had thought many times about what being in love would be like. He saw those relationships at school where the boy had to do everything for the girl and she never seemed grateful. But he also saw the ones where the girl did everything she possibly could and yet never was appreciated.
He didn't want love like that.
He wanted love where he could be himself. Where he could laugh endlessly (not that he did that often as it was, but still) and spend every day with them. He knew relationships didn't come without fights, but he wanted someone who could go from crazy mad to laughing in no time flat. Someone who made him feel like he was worth it, no matter what his mood was.
He found that in Makoto.
Makoto was the one who would pull Haru in and kiss him in the middle of a sentence because he didn't want to fight anymore. If Haru did laugh for some reason, he knew Makoto would simply cherish it, instead of acting like it was the end of the world. Makoto knew him inside and out and yet he still managed to light a fire in Haru's heart that he never knew he could feel.
It didn't matter if it was something as small as walking home from school, Haru felt like he was always having an amazing time when they were together. Sometimes Makoto would grab his hand and just run and even though they never had a destination, Haru found himself swept away and entirely thrilled at the action anyways.
He found a love that made him feel crazy. He went out of his mind in love with Makoto and somehow Makoto still made him feel like this was totally natural.
Our Song- Taylor Swift
Makoto had often heard people saying that couples were supposed to have a "song". One that applied to their relationship and made them think of each other. But try as he might, Makoto couldn't think of what their song could possibly be. Neither of them really paid much attention to music, so he was at a loss for ideas.
But then one day he was sitting at the side of the pool while Haru swam and the idea finally hit him.
"Haru!" He called. Haru popped up from under water almost immediately as if he had been waiting for Makoto's call all along. "I've figured out our song!"
Haruka had known that Makoto was trying to figure out their song for some time now, and he didn't particularly care to have one, but if it meant something to Makoto, then it meant something to him. So he swam over, pulled himself out of the pool and tossed a towel on his head, waiting for Makoto to elaborate.
"Our song," He says without further ado, "Is the sound of water splashing. It's the feeling of warm sun on our skin and the laughter of our team. It's calling to each other, fighting over video games and the feeling of your hand in mine."
Haru looked up, pulling the towel off his head, fully interested now. This wasn't at all what he had been expecting.
"It's the way we speak with just a look, you standing up for me and you cooking me mackerel."
Softly, Haru smiled and decided to play along, "It's the way you smile just for me and how your eyes sparkle when something pleases you. It's how you love kittens and are always taking care of everyone."
"Yes!" Makoto was thrilled. Beyond thrilled, really, that Haru was participating. "It's the look on your face when you see water and how elegantly you swim. It's the way we fit together like it's nothing. That's our song, Haru."
Haru stood finally, walked over to his boyfriend and placed a sweet kiss on his lips. After a moment, he pulled back and smiled up at his boyfriend. It was one of those rare smiles that made Makoto's world whole, "I like our song."
"I love our song," Makoto agreed, just before Haru dove back into the pool, starting their song all over again.
Treacherous- Taylor Swift
Makoto remembered when he realized he was in love with Haru. He remembered feeling like he was standing at the bottom of a mountain with nothing but an impossible climb ahead of him. He remembered being terrified to see Haru after that, but also knowing that he couldn't go without Haru. That Haru couldn't go without him.
Carefully, he climbed. The slope was treacherous and he felt like he would take two steps forwards and one step back, but everything was worth it to him. When Haru smiled at him, he felt himself entirely swept away. It was moments like that that he knew the climb would be worth it.
Finally one day he reached the top. He hadn't realized quite how close he was, but there he stood on the edge, waiting to be pushed one way or another.
He was sitting in the sand on the beach as Haru came back towards him and without thinking he simply said, "I love you."
In an instant he had his hand over his mouth and his face was beet red. He had wanted to say those words for a long time, it was true, but there were plenty of better ways to do it. He felt like he was toppling back to the bottom of the mountain, all the progress he had made was about to be destroyed.
Instead, Haru's steps never faltered. He continued walking and plopped down next to Makoto with nothing more than, "I know, I love you, too."
And suddenly everything he had ever done was worth it.
Stay, Stay, Stay- Taylor Swift
The two rarely fought with each other. They usually knew each other too well and could predict the other's actions well enough to avoid any hurt feelings or stepping on each other's toes. However, there were times where they did fight.
In fact, when they fought, it usually involved a lot of yelling, which was uncharacteristic of both of them. But then the fights would end and one would walk up to the other and pull them into a hug, asking them to stay.
Every relationship had problems and that was totally fine. Their relationship had far more good than bad and they had been together and in love for so long, they thought of being separated was unbearable to them both. They had completely memorized each other and would never be willing to put that work into anyone else. Nobody else could be worth it.
Because despite their fights, they loved each other with an unmatched ferocity. So when the fight was over, they would cuddle up and reassure each other that their love would never, could never falter.
Mockingbird- Rob Thomas
Makoto and Haruka stood facing each other on the concrete next to the pool. Everyone stood around them, staring at them with the same smiles they always gave. Makoto could feel his eyes watering as he stared at Haruka.
Suddenly and without warning, he turned on his heels and sprinted off the school grounds. He didn't stop for his backpack and clothes, he didn't stop for anything, he just ran. Of course the others couldn't see it. While they were his friends and he treasured them dearly, he couldn't let them see the real him: the one inside. They wouldn't look close enough at his eyes to see the tears forming. Only Haruka could look at him and see it. But why would Haruka care? Haru was the one causing all the pain anyways.
Not that Haru did it intentionally, of course. He would never forgive himself if he knew he was hurting Makoto. In fact, he wouldn't forgive himself for not figuring out what was wrong. So without a moment's hesitation he took off after Makoto, leaving the others behind and sprinting as fast as he could. Unfortunately Makoto was taller than him, had longer legs and was able to take bigger, faster strides, leaving Haru more or less in the dust. Fortunately, Haru knew Makoto well enough to predict where he was going and catch up to him anyways.
He walked down the beach and to a small cave they had discovered together years ago. Despite the number of times they had been to the beach with the others, they had never shared this cave with them. This was their place and they had no intention of ever including anyone else on their secret.
He walked into the small cave to see Makoto pacing circles around the cave like he did when he was worried or upset, running his hands angrily through his hair.
"Makoto?" Haru ventured carefully into the cave.
Makoto stopped his pacing immediately, fitting a smile to his face and turning to face the other, "A-ah! Haru! What are you doing here?"
Haru walked in and stood next to his friend. Of course he could see past that smile. All it took was one look into his eyes to see that he was still on the verge of tears. "What's wrong?"
"What do you-?"
"Tell me what's wrong."
Haru said it gently, not forcefully, but the tone of his voice made Makoto crack. Tears welled up in his eyes again as he looked anywhere but his friend, clearly not able to stop the words tumbling out of his mouth.
"I'm losing you, Haru. I've tried to be supportive. I've tried to give you what you want. I just feel like no matter what happens, you're going to disappear and I'm not ready to lose you. I won't ever be ready for that."
Haru looked up, stunned. He had very rarely felt completely stunned, but this moment had him. Losing him? Makoto thought he was losing him? For a moment Haru considered laughing at the absurdity of the situation. Of course! Things always get so twisted, don't they?
"Makoto." Haru looked up at him. He had never been one to shy away from things like this and much preferred to deal with them directly and honestly. It had taken Makoto a long time to get accustomed to that, but they had eventually found a balance that worked for them. "This is my fault and I acknowledge that and I'm sorry."
"No, Haru—"
"Please, let me just say this." It was unlike Haruka to plead but this situation was so unlike anything either of them had experienced that it didn't even matter. "I understand why you feel that way. I've been pulling away and shutting you out and I know that I have been. It's been intentional."
Hurt flashed across Makoto's face for only a moment, but it was one of the longest moments of Haru's life.
"I've done it because I've been trying to protect you. To keep you happy. You like things how they are, don't you? Well, I don't. I want more. I want to be more than just best friends with you. And I understand that you don't want that and I'm not offended, I've spent a lot of time making sure I can come to terms with that. But part of coming to terms with it was pulling away and I'm sorry it hurt you, that was never my intention."
Finally taking a deep breath, Haru allowed himself to assess Makoto's reaction. Tears were sliding down his cheeks finally and the sight broke Haru's heart. However, as he looked closer, he saw that Makoto was smiling.
Before anymore could be said, Makoto reached out and pulled Haru to him, hugging him tighter than Haru could handle. After a moment he fought his way out and caught his breath, entirely caught off guard.
"Don't you dare pull away from me like that ever again," Was all Makoto said, but Haru knew what it meant.
He could feel it in his heart; the way the pieces repaired themselves. He could feel Makoto's acceptance of his love filling him and bubbling over, making him truly smile at his best friend. Maybe they weren't meant to be friends; they were always meant to be more.
